Photo courtesy of: Nuts about Squirrels
On my morning walk on Wednesday, I saw two squirrels chasing each other in the park. One appeared to not have a tail – just a bushy short stub. But I wasn’t quite sure as I was quite a few feet away from them.
Then on Thursday, I saw what I believed was that same squirrel as he scurried up a telephone pole. Sure enough, he didn’t have a tail!
I love to watch their tails flick back and forth, which means they are either sending a warning or will do this to let predators know they see the danger – sort of like a spoiler alert! Squirrels are so clever and sly, aren’t they?
But I thought about that tail missing on the squirrel as I walked to the library Thursday afternoon. It’s not something I’ve seen before and wondered if there was a teaching in this.
As our world continues to shift on its axel in many ways we didn’t see coming (though I know many of us felt something was coming for a long time), I see this as a message that we are all weaving a new tale. I was reminded of my friend Dawn’s experience with a dream she had about a snake missing its tail – and she’d go on to write a whole book about Snake and some powerful and profound lessons.
Doing a bit of research when I got home, I read that squirrels can survive just fine without a tail. They adapt. Just like we are having to do in this year of 2020!
I’ve learned over the years to not immediately drop into feeling sorry for an animal missing a limb, or limbs that don’t work quite right, (thanks to my three special needs dachshunds!) or whatever perceived ‘handicap’ they may have. That squirrel was so busy having fun being a squirrel and I was enjoying watching him persevere.
He was making the best of life despite a tail that was no longer there. Perhaps he does things in a different way because of his missing tail – I don’t know for sure – but a key for me was that he adapted – and perhaps he has different experiences than a squirrel with a tail.
We don’t know what the future holds right now as we teeter on so many unknowns, but one thing is for sure, a new tale is in the making and on the way – and we just have to trust that it is going to be even better than we imagine.
Yet again, this morning, out on my walk, having gotten pulled into something that upset me on the news, I was trying to ‘figure it out’ and saw the squirrel yet again without a tail. Oh my, I had to chuckle how fast I can lose sight! And I heard once again that this is part of the new tale we are creating!
P.S. I did a short little video yesterday inspired to share blessings, giggles, and gratitude (plus a sweet little book about teachings from Sloth) if you want to check it out here.
xo,
Barbara
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